What do seasons and consumer desires have in common?
Both take turns and are often synchronized. As the air crisps and the leaves begin to fall, our appetites naturally gravitate toward cozy fall flavors like apple, maple, and pumpkin. It’s instinctive and shapes the menu as a whole. From quick service to fine dining, operators know the value of flavors that evolve with the seasons.
But what if ingredients weren’t tied to a calendar and could become part of consumers’ routines and cravings all year long? Everything changes. Shoppers grow loyal to trusted products as the seasons change, and diners develop habits around flavors they can always enjoy. For CPG brands, consistent, diverse ingredients that aren’t tied to seasonality are a real game changer.
Why “Always Seasonally” Matters
American tart cherries are available in a variety of forms all year round, making them a product ripe for innovation throughout today’s trend-driven food and beverage environment. With a perfectly balanced sweet-tart profile, tart cherries shine as an ingredient in classic yet unexpected ways, from snacks and sauces to premium pairings.
This diversity is more important than ever. Rather than sticking to traditional sweet flavors, today’s consumers prefer contrasting flavors and complex, multidimensional tastes. This is where tart cherries shine. Naturally sweet and sour flavors meet the growing demand for bold, multi-layered taste experiences while opening the door to unexpected pairings and new product innovation. It’s no surprise that products using tart cherries are growing rapidly on store shelves, with launches increasing 94% in the six years to 2022.1
Inspiration for capitalizing on the tart cherry trend 365 days a year
Because tart cherries are always in season, their potential varies depending on the category. Whether mixed into functional snacks, paired with the protein of a main dish, added to sparkling beverages, or reinterpreted as a global condiment, tart cherries offer unparalleled flexibility and consumer appeal.
Here are a few trend-setting ways to eat them featuring this bold, flavorful fruit.
- Functional beverages and ready-to-drink smoothies
Ideal for juice blends, sparkling water, hydrating drinks and post-workout recovery. - Snacks and Protein Bars
Perfect for whole food bars, nut and seed bars, and high protein options. - Yogurt and dairy alternatives
Perfect as a mix-in, topping, or topped with fruit. - frozen snacks
Adds a bold, fruity contrast to frozen yogurt, popsicles, and sorbets. - Cereal & Granola
Dried tart cherries are a favorite ingredient in clusters, muesli and oat blends. - baked goods
Brightens muffins, pastries, scones and cookies. - Trail Mix and Snack Cluster
Nuts, seeds, and dark chocolate complement the tangy and chewy flavor. - Sauces, Glazes and Condiments
Think tart cherry barbecue sauces, hot sauces, marinades and vinaigrettes.
Tart cherries are more than just a popular seasonal fruit. Available all year round, with bold, sweet and tart flavors and unrivaled versatility, they are perfectly suited to today’s need for functional, globally inspired, boundary-pushing foods. From beverages and snacks to sauces and baked goods, Tart Cherry sparks innovation across categories 365 days a year.
reference
1Mintel Global New Product Database (GNPD), 2022
